Cowboys shut out opponent from the far south

One week after surrendering more points than it had in its first three games combined, the motivated Canyon defense bolstered the Cowboys to a 28-0 win over the Steele Canyon Cougars on Friday, some 175 miles from home in Spring Valley.

But more than the defense, it was a balanced team victory.

“I think, in general, for the whole team, it was something we made sure we battled back,” said Canyon head coach Rich Gutierrez.

Canyon (4-1) had some double motivation for the game — a 45-21 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 27 and a bitter 49-49 home tie to Steele Canyon last season in which the Cowboys led by 20 points late in the third quarter.

That loss fell heavily on the defense, but this time around Canyon wouldn’t let that happen.

The Cowboys made six sacks, and Tevon Priestley intercepted a third-quarter pass.

Gutierrez said interior defensive linemen Phillip Dent and Ryan Swart (who had two sacks) made things difficult for the Cougars (2-3) and linebacker Jacob Clarke, who also had two sacks, sealed off the outside passing lanes.